City district pursuing new grants

JOHNSTOWN – The Greater Johnstown School District is involved in new grant initiatives that would offer curriculum choices for students.

District Superintendent Robert DeLilli reported on grant opportunities at the board’s business meeting Thursday at Johnstown High School.

“There’s a number [of grants] we’re working on,” DeLilli said.

The superintendent mentioned the Johnstown district is taking advantage of a $2.4 million P-Tech Grant that was awarded to the region. P-Tech, or Pathways in Technology, combines high school with early college opportunities for students in grades nine and above, officials said. The district is working with the Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery Board of Cooperative Educational Services on the grant, which will be disbursed over the next several years.

DeLilli said a training session for staff regarding the grant will be conducted Tuesday.

He also reported the district is trying to access a Teacher Leader Effectiveness Grant. The grant is part of the Board of Regents’ statewide effort to strengthen educator effectiveness at all levels by having the most effective teachers and principals extend their influence by helping other educators.

DeLilli said the Broadalbin-Perth Central School District obtained the grant, which is $250,000. He said the grant helps teachers with professional development and strengthens their abilities to move up in their careers.

“The other piece of the administrator element is that it is a springboard to further their degree,” DeLilli said.

Also Thursday, DeLilli reminded the board about new proposed board goals.

Board member Ronald Beck said he noticed one of the goals is to establish a climate of “transparency” and openness in the district. Along those lines, he said, he likes the idea of board “ambassadors” to events at schools.

Several board members volunteered to be ambassadors to schools, including Mark Ward and Angela Clizbe to Knox Junior High School, Kathryn Zajicek to Johnstown High School, and board President Paul VanDenburgh to Warren Street Elementary School.